Multiple speed transmission for connecting an air conditioner compressor of a vehicle to the engine of the vehicle

Abstract

A multiple speed transmission for connecting an air conditioner compressor of an automobile to a prime mover of the automobile. The transmission includes driving apparatus, driven apparatus, and mounting apparatus. The driving apparatus operatively connects to the prime mover of the automobile. The driven apparatus is operatively connected to the driving apparatus for operatively connecting to the air conditioner compressor of the automobile. The mounting apparatus mounts the driving apparatus and the driven apparatus to the prime mover of the automobile. When the air conditioner thermostat engages the air conditioner clutch, a RPM control box of the driving apparatus interchangeably engages a first clutch of the driving apparatus and a second clutch of the driving apparatus, based on the RPM of the prime mover of the automobile, to assure that the required RPM of the shaft of the air conditioner compressor of the automobile is continuously maintained, regardless of the RPM of the prime mover of the automobile.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A multiple speed transmission for connecting an air conditioner compressor of an automobile to a prime mover of the automobile, wherein the air conditioner compressor of the automobile has a shaft with a RPM and the prime mover of the automobile has an RPM, said transmission comprising: a) driving apparatus for operatively connecting to the prime mover of the automobile;   b) driven apparatus operatively connected to said driving apparatus for operatively connecting to the air conditioner compressor of the automobile; and   c) mounting apparatus for mounting said driving apparatus and said driven apparatus to the prime mover of the automobile; said mounting apparatus comprising a bracket for rigid mounting to the prime mover of the automobile and for rotatably receiving the shaft of the air conditioner compressor of the automobile; said driving apparatus comprising: i) a driving shaft rotatably mounted to said bracket of said mounting apparatus for parallel disposition to the shaft of the air conditioner compressor of the automobile;   ii) a first drive pulley mounted on said driving shaft of said driving apparatus for rotation therewith and for operative connecting to the prime mover of the automobile by a drive belt;   iii) a second drive pulley mounted on said driving shaft of said driving apparatus, outboard of, and larger than, said first driving pulley of said driving apparatus, and being selectively engaged with said driving shaft of said driving apparatus by a first clutch; and   iv) a third drive pulley mounted on said driving shaft of said driving apparatus, outboard of, and smaller than, said second driving pulley of said driving apparatus, and being selectively engaged with said driving shaft of said driving apparatus by a second clutch.     
     
     
       2. The transmission as defined in claim 1, wherein said driving apparatus further comprises a RPM control box that is mounted on said bracket of said mounting apparatus and is in electrical communication with, and selectively engages one of, said first clutch of said driving apparatus and said second clutch of said driving apparatus. 
     
     
       3. The transmission as defined in claim 2, wherein said driven apparatus comprises a driven shaft that is rotatably mounted to said bracket of said mounting apparatus for coaxial mounting to, and for rotation with, the shaft of the air conditioner compressor of the automobile by a coupling. 
     
     
       4. The transmission as defined in claim 3, wherein said driven apparatus further comprises a first driven pulley that is mounted on said driven shaft of said driven apparatus, in line with, smaller than, connected by a first driven belt to, and for rotation with, said second drive pulley of said driving apparatus, and for selectively engagement with said driven shaft of said driven apparatus by an air conditioner clutch for electrically connecting to, and activation by, an air conditioner thermostat. 
     
     
       5. The transmission as defined in claim 4, wherein said driven apparatus further comprises a second driven pulley that is mounted on said driven shaft of said driven apparatus, outboard of, and same size as, said first driven pulley of said driven apparatus, in line with, an connected by a second driven belt to, for rotation with, said third drive pulley of said driving apparatus, and for selective engagement with said driven shaft of said driven apparatus by the air conditioner clutch, and when the air conditioner thermostat engages the air conditioner clutch, said RPM control box of said driving apparatus interchangeably engages said first clutch of said driving apparatus and said second clutch of said driving apparatus based on the RPM of the prime mover of the automobile, to assure that the required RPM of the shaft of the air conditioner compressor of the automobile is continuously maintained, regardless of the RPM of the prime mover of the automobile.